Download Managing children with allergies, or who are sick or infectious

Managing Children with Allergies or who are Sick or Infectious
(Including reporting notifiable diseases)
Policy Statement
We provide care for all children and promote health through identifying allergies and preventing contact with
the allergenic substance and through preventing cross infection of viruses and bacterial infections.
Procedures for Children with allergies
When children start at Sutton Mencap they are asked if they suffer from any known allergies. This is recorded
on the registration form, added to the allergy list and included on individual risk assessment. It is ensured the
details of the allergy are recorded and what to do in an emergency, for example prescribed anti histamines or
Epi Pen.
It is important to note that Sutton Mencap is a nut free zone and no individual or staff are not permitted to
bringing any products with nuts on to a service. Parent/carers are informed of this during their child’s
induction with Sutton Mencap.
Staff are given training in how to administer emergency allergy medication e.g EpiPen by a trained health care
professional.
Procedures for children who are sick or infectious
Sutton Mencap can refuse admittance to children who have a temperature, sickness and diarrhea or a
contagious infection or disease.
If children appear unwell during the day, for example have a temperature, sickness, diarrhea or pains,
particularly in the head or stomach the session co-ordinator will call the parents/carers and asks them to
collect the child, or send a known carer to collect on their behalf.
If a child has a temperature, they are kept cool, by removing top clothing, sponging their heads with cool
water, but kept away from draughts. If the temperature continues to rise the child should be taken to the
nearest hospital and the parent informed immediately.
Parents are asked to take their child to the doctor before returning them to Sutton Mencap.
Where children have been prescribed antibiotics, parents are asked to keep them at home for 48 hours before
returning to Sutton Mencap. After diarrhea, parents are asked to keep children home for 48 hours or until a
formed stool is passed.
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If an infectious or communicable disease is detected at Sutton Mencap we will inform other parent/carers as
soon as possible. Sutton Mencap has a list of excludable diseases and current exclusion times and includes
common childhood illnesses such as measles. See full list attached from the Health Protection agency.
Reporting of notifiable diseases’
If a child or adult is diagnosed and suffering from a notifiable disease or there has been an outbreak of a
notifiable disease under the public Health (Infectious Diseases) Regulations 1988, Sutton Mencap will inform
the local Health protection agency : South West London Team 0844 326 2052
If Sutton Mencap becomes aware or is formally informed of the notifiable disease, the manager will inform
Ofsted and act on any advice given by the Health Protection Agency.
HIV/AIDS/Hepatitis procedure
HIV virus, like other viruses such as Hepatitis, (A, B and C) are spread through body fluids. Hygiene
precautions for dealing with body fluids are the same for all children and adults.
 Single use vinyl gloves and aprons are worn when changing children’s nappies, pants and clothing that are
soiled with blood, urine, faeces or vomit.
 Protective rubber gloves are used for cleaning /sluicing clothing after changing.
 Soiled clothing is rinsed and either bagged for parents to collect or laundered in the nursery.
 Spills of blood, urine, faeces or vomit are cleared using mild disinfectant solution and mops; cloths used are
disposed and doubled bagged with waste (Spill packs are also available).
 Tables and other furniture, furnishings or toys affected by blood, urine, faeces or vomit are cleaned using a
disinfectant and put on a high heat.
Head Lice procedure
If a case of head lice is found at Sutton Mencap the parent/carer of the child will be discreetly informed when
they collect the child. Other parents will be informed and asked to check their own children for head lice, but
care will be taken not to identify the child affected. Head lice are not an excludable condition, although in
exceptional cases a parent may be asked to keep the child away until the infestation has cleared.
Further guidance
Health Protection Agency: www.hpa.org.uk
Good Practice in Early Years Infection Control (2009)
Signed on behalf of the Executive Committee of Sutton Mencap
Chairman:
Date:
Mavis Peart
January 2014